WINTER DAYS

 Like most of you in the US, this weekend finds us in the deep freeze. No walking for me for the next several days. No snow here, just sleet, freezing rain and temperatures below freezing for the next several days. At least we didn't get the 14" of snow first mentioned several days ago. Winter in the South.

So what to do? Put a pot of 15 Bean Soup in the slow cooker. Corn muffins will be made later:

Free motion quilt Diamond Jubilee, with a new ruler:

The only thing left is the borders

Wavy border straight line quilting

This is a terrific new ruler: STITCHLINE 1 QUILTING RULER designed and sold by my friend Geraldine Wilkins--no relation that we know of.  Watch her video at this link and you will want one too. It combines a channel for Stitch in the Ditch--a MUST for me, a long straight edge with needle stops at both ends AND a cool wavy edge that lets you make lots of great designs easily. In addition, there are lots of great reference lines built in that allow for less marking on the quilt itself. 

Her website and YouTube channel have good videos as she explains lots of important things to know about free motion quilting with rulers. If you want one of her brand new rulers, buy it from her-- shipping was reasonable and fast once she got them in stock. Tell her I sent you:

 

I haven't decided if I am going to do a cross hatch border--double the quilting--but I might. When all the first round is done I will decide. 

Spend a few hours with the hubby doing a jigsaw puzzle:

A few days ago I had fun teaching THE VILLAGE at Southern Charm Quilting here at home. The students did well, most learned a few valuable tricks to improve and enjoy paper piecing:

Student work at the end of the class

I bet some of them are building more houses today

Class sample:

I hope you are warm and contentedly working on whatever brings you joy during this big storm week. How do you keep busy?

Let's quilt.

Barbara